POLICE on Wednesday said they were looking at the possible involvement of another policeman in the robbery and extortion of three visiting Korean golfers, but said they were also investigating the involvement of other Koreans
Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, chief Police Regional Office-3, told a radio interview that the inclusion of another suspect brings to eight the number of lawmen that reportedly victimized the three Koreans.
Earlier, police identified the seven suspects as PO3s Arnold Nagayo, Gomerson Evangelista, and Roentjen Domingo; PO2s Richard King and Ruben Rodriguez; and PO1s Jayson Ibe and Mark Joseph Pineda.
Also ordered relieved were Chief Insp. Wendel Arinas, commander of Station 5 and his deputy Senior Insp. Rolando Yutuc for command responsibility.
On Wednesday, Aquino, also ordered the relief of Sr. Supt Sidney Villaflor, Angeles City Police Chief for command responsibility over the acts of his men.
The policemen raided the temporary residence of the three Koreans—two of them identified as Park Min-hoon and Lee Ki-hoon, on the pretext that they were involved in illegal online gaming.
After the raid failed to establish any evidence against the Koreans, the lawmen robbed them of their expensive personal belongings, not sparing even their shoes.
The three Koreans were then brought to the police station where they made to pay the policemen P200,000.
Aquino said they are also investigating if some Koreans were involved.
Aquino also suggested that the accused policemen had operated not only in Angeles City but also in other parts of Pampanga and Bulacan.
Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa ordered summary dismissal proceedings against the seven policemen who robbed and extorted money from the three visiting Korean golfers in Angeles City, Pampanga in December last year.
Aquino said he was waiting for the charge sheet and said they could finish the case in 60 days.
Also on Wednesday, PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Dionardo Carlos acknowledged that rogue policemen were taking advantage of the government’s war on illegal drugs.
“Well I’ll be frank with you, yes, there are. These are rogue cops that we still have in our ranks and we are taking them away,” Carlos said.